Separable fastener



Feb. 21, 1933. w. L. PIPES SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed Oct. 23, 1931 Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER L. PIPES, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW "JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHOE HARDWARE COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT SEPARABLE FASTEN ER Application filed October 23, 1931.

This invention relates to completely separable fasteners of the type wherein a series of interlocking members are disposed on the edges of a stringer and arranged to be engaged and disengaged by the actuation of a slider.

Fasteners constructed of two series of interlocking members adapted to be engaged and disengaged by the operation of a slider are commonly referred to as slider fasteners. It is desirable that this type of fastener be constructed so that the stringers carrying the two series of elements be completely separated. One instance in which such a construction is required is in the manufacture of such articles of apparel as sport shirts or coats wherein it is desired to incorporate a fastener construction enabling the article to be put on in the manner of an ordinary shirt rather than slipped on over the head in the manner of a slipover sweater.

Devices have been suggested to enable slider fasteners to be completely separated, yet their 8 construction has heretofore involved a considerable number of parts with a concomitant increase in manufacturing costs. This invention relates to the construction of a separable slider fastener with a minimum number of parts. This result is achieved in part by so arranging the novel separable connection so that the slider and the interlocking members may coact therewith to enable certain of the interlocking members to be utilized to act as a means for registering the two series of in terlocking members in proper alignment preparatory to engaging them and fastening the stringers together. By the utilization of certain of the interlocking members as a stop means it is apparent that the number of parts of the separable connection itself may be reduced.

The invention involves an extremely simple construction and-is simple and economical in manufacture,'and results ina separable fastener which may be quickly and easily operated. Other advantages of the invention will more clearly appear when reference is had to the following specification and drawing.

Serial a... 570,526.

In the drawing:.

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a constructed to embody the principles of this invention, parts of the slider being cut away to show the novel principle ofoperation.

' Fig. 2 represents the slider fastener with the slider advanced a considerable distance over the interlocking member so as to engage he same.

Fig. 3 is a view of the slider fastener of this invention with the two stringers completely separated.

. ig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken along line fr-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one type of separable connection adapted for use with this invention.

On stringers 1 and 2 provided With enlarged corded edges 5 and 6 are disposed a series of interlocking members 3 and 4.

ese members are adapted to be engaged and disengaged by the operation of a slider compass the members position, and connected and diverging channels 9 and 10 through which the members 4 and 3 may pass upon movement of the slider in their interlocking arranged operating member 13 enabling the actuation of the slider.

At one end of the stringer 1 is clamped a separable connection 7. his consists in a pair of substantially tubular elements 14 and 15 connected together in any suitable way such as by a connecting piece 16 which may be soldered thereto. Member 14 is clamped upon the corded edge 5 of the stringer 1 whereas member 15 is constructed of a slightly greater diameter so that the corded ed 6 of stringer 2 may be passed therethrougi.

he connecting member 7 is clamped on the bead 5 at a distance from the last interlocking member 3' of the series disposed on stringer 1 so that the member-3' is positioned slightly below the middle (measured from top to bottom) of the slider when the latter is abutted against the connecting member 7 In this position it will be seen that the memslider fastener having a central channel 11 adapted to en preparatory to their engagement or after cent stringer 2 cannot movement of the stringer 2 and registers the two series of interlocking members in proper alignment for interengagement upon actuation of the slider. In operation the slider 8 is abutted against the separable connection 7 and the corded edge 6 of stringer 2 is inserted through the channel 9 and through the tubular member 15 of the separable connection. The cord 6 is pulled downwardly in the direction of the arrow as far as it will go so that the last interlocking member 4 of the series of members 4 abuts against the last interlocking member 3 of the series 3. The two cords are then held, as between the thumb and forefinger, and the operating member 13 of the slider grasped and pulled upwardlly, thus engaging the interlocking members. n unfastening the device it is apparent that the slider 8 is brought down to abut again against the separable connection 7, at which time the cord 6 and stringer 2 may be withdrawn through member 15 and channels 11 and 9. In order to insure a firm grip upon the cord '6 to prevent it from being displaced laterally the separable connection may be constructed as illustrated in Fig. 5 with a barrel portion 18 designed to loosely encircle the corded edge of the tape. In this as well as the other embodiment of the invention the separable connection may be constructed of one piece, for example as shown in Fig. 5, and the corded edge 6' may be provided with a metal ferrule 17 for convenience of insertion.

By fixing the connection 7 upon the corded edge 5 of stringer 1 a predetermined distance as above described from the interlocking member 3', it is apparent that I have constructed a slider which utilizes the last two elements of each series as a means tering the alignment for engagement, thus eliminating the necessity of special stop or guide members thus greatly simplying the construction and commercial manufacture of a separable slider fastener.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a separable fastener comprisin interlocking elements secured to enlarge mar s of opposed flexible stringers and a slider or operating the same, of a connecting member fixed to the enlarged margin of one stringerand loosely engaging the enlarged margin of the other stringer, said connecting member halting movement of the slider in a redetermined position, the lowermost inter ocking element on the stringer to which said connecting member is fixed being located at such a distance from the connectin member as to obstruct passage through the s ider (when the latter is in contact with the connecting member) of the lowermost interlockin element on the other stringer and there y permitting the interlocking elements on the two stringers to be engaged by movement of the slider from a position in contact with said connecting member, and said connecting member being adapted to prevent disengagement of the interlocking elements adjacent thereto after the slider has been moved to a position remote therefrom.

2. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers having opposed series of interlocking members, a slider having diverging channels movable along such stringers to engage and disengage said members, a separable connection comprising a pair of connected tubular elements one of which is fixed upon one of said stringers and the other adapted to permit the corded edge of the other stringer to be passed therethrough, the said connection being distanced from the last interlocking member of the stringer to which it is attached an amount determined so that the last interlocking member on the other stringer may abut a ainst the last interlocking member on the rst stringer when the slider is abutted against said connection.

3. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers having opposed series of interlocking members, a slider having diverging channels movable along such stringers to engageand disengage said members, a separable connection comprising a pair of connected tubular elements one of which is fixed upon one of said stringers and the other adapted to loosely encircle the corded edge of the other stringer and prevent lateral movement thereof, the said connection being distanced from the last interlocking member of the stringer to which it is attached an for regis amount determined so that the last interlocktwo series in proper relation ori ing member on the other stringer may abut against the last interlocking member on the first stringer when the slider is abutted against said connection and thereby the interlocking members on the pair of stringers may be interlocked by movement of the slider from its position abutting said connection.

Signed at New York, county of New York, State of New York, this 22nd day of October,

' WALTER L. PIPES. 

